Umm, there’s a lot I think I could say about this like I don’t see the point, but I guess there is one as it’s out there available to buy. I guess people need Bluetooth enabled pedals under their desks?! Do You?

A new wireless foot pedal makes it possible to perform hands-free page turning of electronic documents on any computer, including iPads. The pedal, known as the PageFlip Cicada, is available immediately for worldwide distribution directly from PageFlip at http://www.pageflip.com. The Hal Leonard Corporation has agreed to handle U.S. retail channel distribution.

The PageFlip Cicada is a wireless Bluetooth pedal designed to meet the needs of musicians and people with disabilities who struggle with the challenge and inconvenience of page turning. PageFlip Cicada works exclusively with digital documents on iPads, Macs, and PCs. By simply tapping the left or right pedal of the PageFlip Cicada, digital content can now be flipped or scrolled in either the forward or reverse directions for convenient hands-free reading.

The PageFlip Cicada emulates a standard keyboard and works with any software that uses keyboard strokes to navigate through digital files. For added versatility, the user may select among five modes for the dual pedals: PageUp/PageDown, Left/Right arrow, Up/Down arrow, Left/Right mouse click, and Space/Enter. Changing modes is as simple as pressing a button. No software installation or programming is required.

The PageFlip Cicada works with iPads under select keyboard-compatible apps such as forScore, Deepdish GigBook, MusicReader, unrealBook, and OnSong. The pedal does not operate with the Amazon Kindle since the Kindle does not support Bluetooth or include a USB port. However, Kindle software running on a PC or Mac works with the pedal.

The PageFlip Cicada has a retail price of $79.95 and ships with a universal AC adapter and a USB Bluetooth dongle for use with computers that are not already equipped with Bluetooth support. The PageFlip Cicada can be powered by two AA batteries, features an autorepeat mode for fast browsing or scrolling, and includes two 1/8" mono plugs for people with disabilities to attach an external breath-controlled sip-and-puff switch or two lightweight JellyBean pushbuttons to trigger page turning in the forward or reverse directions. External switches are not included. PageFlip offers free shipping within the US and Canada.

PageFlip has reached a deal with Milwaukee-based Hal Leonard Corporation (http://www.halleonard.com) to be the exclusive distributor of the pedal to all retail channels in the US. Comments Brad Smith, senior sales and marketing manager for Hal Leonard, "With the popularity of the iPad and many other such sheet music-friendly electronic devices becoming available, the market is ripe for the Cicada and other great products that support the needs of today’s wired and mobile musicians. We’re happy to team with PageFlip to bring this unique tool to a wide audience."

PageFlip CTO George Wolberg echoes the sentiment: "The association with Hal Leonard extends our product availability to retail channels that have hitherto not been available to us. We think this broader market reach will result in a much greater product availability for users that don’t use the Internet to purchase products, or prefer a live demonstration before purchase."

The widespread proliferation of laptops, iPads, and other portable tablets give musicians and people with disabilities more options in storing and displaying their sheet music, books, and other electronic documents. The PageFlip Cicada now offers these users a lightweight, compact, and fully embedded solution for convenient hands-free page turning.